“We have a proposition for you.” Vince smiled. “Let me start by saying that I’ve never seen Ollie look at someone the way he looks at you.”
What the fuck?I hadn’t noticed Oliver looking at Birdie atall, but then again, I’d been wrapped up in making sureIwasn’t getting caught up with her and making sure everything went according to plan while we were here.
Vince continued. “Come to Wexstone with us. Let my family sponsor you.”
I nearly dropped the liquor bottle.
Birdie choked. “You’re kidding me, right? No way.”
“We actually think this would be perfect for you,” Sam interjected.
“We? Wait, was this your idea? Samantha Grace Rickett, you have lost your damn mind.”
“It was a joint idea,” Vince laughed, throwing his arm casually around Sam’s shoulder. My blood boiled and I wanted to punch him for how laid back he seemed about this.
Sam put her hand on Birdie’s knee. “Look, you know you haven’t been very open to love lately. And you do need a place to live for a bit. Go to Wexstone, do the contest, give love a chance.”
“I can’t just pick up and move to another country for a few months. I have a job!”
Sam looked at her pointedly. “I’m pretty sure the bar will still be here in a few months.” Her voice was firm.
“Well, what about my stuff? And Connor would freak out if I missed Thanksgiving and Christmas. You know how he is about the holidays. I can’t just jump on a plane and leave.”
“You wouldn’t need to fly out until next week. You could take the week to get your affairs in order,” Vince said.
“I barely know Prince Oliver. I don’t know anything about your country. I definitely don’t know the first thing about being noble or royalty or a socialite. I’m just a girl from the Midwest who swears like a sailor and would rather wear jeans than dresses. There’s no way the prince would want me, he’sway out of my league.” He wasn’t; if anything, she was out of all of our leagues.
“I think you’re just what he’s looking for.” Vince smiled reassuringly, winking at me. A dimple appeared in his left cheek. “My family has been waiting to announce who we are sponsoring until we found just the right woman, and Birdie, it’s you.” Damn him, he always knew how to turn on the charm. For once, I hated him for it.
“What are you guys talking about?” Oliver asked as he walked up and took a seat next to me.
“I want to sponsor Birdie for the contest!” Vince said with so much excitement he could barely contain it.
Oliver looked between Vince and Birdie and then over to me like he was considering it.
“Does Ms. Birdie want to come?”
Her face flushed as she grabbed her beer and took a large gulp from it. I felt my focus narrow, my heart racing as I waited to hear what she’d say.
“Iamhomeless in two weeks,” she laughed nervously. “And it would be fun to hang out with you guys some more.” I could tell she was more than a little tipsy by her slightly too-loud voice.
I stood up fast and strode to the bathrooms, passing a smiling Tej on the way. I needed to remove myself from the conversation so I could process my thoughts.
I had too many emotions and too much alcohol flooding my system. Oliver needed to find a wife so he could take the throne; I wanted that for him. But I didn’t want it to be Birdie.
I didn’t have a good reason for my jealousy—I had met herless than thirty-six hours ago and had no claim on her whatsoever.
But what if youwantto claim her?a voice whispered in the back of my head. I would certainly like to claim her mouth again and again like I had a few hours before, or even her whole body—the way it felt against mine was heavenly.
I shook my head, trying to dispel the mental image of our entwined bodies.Get it together, Knox.
When I stepped out of the bathroom, Oliver was leaning against the wall waiting for me.
“Hey,” he said nonchalantly.
“Hey.”
“Are you good if Birdie comes to Wexstone?”
